Don’t worry about the government…

(what’s so funny ’bout) peace, love, and understanding?

Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: […] I also pay tribute to the minister. He has tried very hard, under the intense mauling that he has received from the opposition over the past 19 hours of debate on this bill. The minister reminds me, I must say, of the footage that we saw only recently – speaking of important environmental matters – of the wildebeest that were lying around a waterhole and that were surrounded by a pride of lions. The minister reminds me of the wildebeest at the waterhole! He is surrounded by the Labor lions, who are launching themselves at the wildebeest! The Minister for Water is flailing around, trying to wrest the Labor lions away from him, and as he wrests one away from him, another one comes along, and they are all reaching in with their claws, and it is a death by a thousand cuts for the poor wildebeest! That probably epitomises what has occurred in the past 19 hours of debate on this bill. It has been a death by a thousand cuts for the Minister for Water, who in this dissertation is playing the role of the wildebeest.

Mr B.J. Grylls: I seem to recall that he won!

Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: Some might think the wildebeest won.

Mrs C.A. Martin: History will tell!

Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: Yes. History will show that the pride of lions prevailed. But, of course, waiting in the water was the crocodilian representation – no, that is not very good. Let us just say that the part of the crocodile could have been played by the member for Fremantle, and the member for Alfred Cove would also have been lurking in the water, so that although the Labor lions were not able to bring down the wildebeest immediately, the other carnivores were waiting in the water, ready to send him on his way! This bill will now be sent on its way to the other place. As we know, the government has the numbers in the other place. It also has the Minister for Environment in the other place. I am sure the minister will receive an appropriate mauling from the opposition in that place.

Mr T.R. Buswell: What – from Sally Talbot!

Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: Absolutely! The Labor leopard, Hon Sally Talbot will, I am sure, be able to inflict
painful wounds to the Minister for Environment when this bill goes to the other place.